Friday, February 01, 2008
Vancouver Canucks vs. The State of Florida
This is my 1,000th post. I can't believe that, after all my random ramblings, you guys keep coming back. Quite simply... thank you.
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I was hoping for some sort of fairy tale story for my 1,000th post. You know, the one where Roberto Luongo comes back after a week off, sweeps the road trip and rights the Vancouver Canucks ship that's lost its way in the last month.
After starting 2008 with wins against both New York teams, the Canucks have won just twice more (both against St. Louis). As crappy as we thought their 5-7 record in October was, their 4-7-1 record in January was one point worse.
I'm at a loss for words. For some reason, they just can't put things together. Alex Burrows had a good game, I thought, but few others did. Taylor Pyatt has been the best Canuck over the past few games. Maybe Mattias Ohlund too. Both were okay last night. The Sedins created some good sustained pressure but didn't have many scoring chances. Luc Bourdon looked good in some parts of the game, but took himself out of the play in others. Overall however, it's been a while - I'm thinking since the Rangers game - since the Canucks have played the proverbial 60-minute game.
More on last night's game:
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
*****
I was hoping for some sort of fairy tale story for my 1,000th post. You know, the one where Roberto Luongo comes back after a week off, sweeps the road trip and rights the Vancouver Canucks ship that's lost its way in the last month.
After starting 2008 with wins against both New York teams, the Canucks have won just twice more (both against St. Louis). As crappy as we thought their 5-7 record in October was, their 4-7-1 record in January was one point worse.
I'm at a loss for words. For some reason, they just can't put things together. Alex Burrows had a good game, I thought, but few others did. Taylor Pyatt has been the best Canuck over the past few games. Maybe Mattias Ohlund too. Both were okay last night. The Sedins created some good sustained pressure but didn't have many scoring chances. Luc Bourdon looked good in some parts of the game, but took himself out of the play in others. Overall however, it's been a while - I'm thinking since the Rangers game - since the Canucks have played the proverbial 60-minute game.
More on last night's game:
- Remember when the Canucks couldn't lose to the Southeast teams? (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Louie not making any excuses. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Believe it or not, we're only 12 points from being in the Steve Stamkos sweepstakes. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Their big-3 was better than our big-3. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- There were as many fights as goals last night. (Damian Cristodero, St. Petersburg Times; The Tampa Tribune)
- Shut 'em out, Louie. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province; Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Again, thanks Mike Keenan. (Ben Kuzma, Vancovuer Province; George Richards, Miami Herald)
- He deserves a warm welcome back. (George Richards, Miami Herald; Steve Gorten, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
- Meh... he'll snap out of it. (Brian Biggane, Palm Beach Post)
- Olli Jokinen might not play tonight. (Steve Gorten, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Labels: game day preview, game recap, Lightning, Luongo, Panthers
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Lightning 1 Canucks 5
Last night's game between the Canucks and the Tampa Bay Lightning was a much-anticipated meeting between one of the best defensive teams in the league versus one its highest-scoring ones. It didn't exactly happen. The Canucks' suffocating defense limited the high-powerd Lightning offense to 17 shots on goal - and even less scoring chances - and delivered a convincing 5-1 victory to go undefeated in their three-game homestand (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province).
It wasn't exactly a night off for Roberto Luongo but it came close.This wasn't the only story of the night as, much like in many others this season, the Canucks put together a clinic in team play.
So often this season, Luongo has carried the Canucks and the hopes of their fans on his formidable shoulders.
Turnabout is fair play.
The Canucks D-men shut down Tampa Bay's top line like a high school kegger after the cops arrive. It helped Luongo to his 38th win of the season, tying Kirk McLean's mark set in 1991-92.
Daniel Sedin scored 21 seconds in the third period to give the Canucks a two-goal cushion; the goal was his 30th of the season, the first time in his career he's reached that plateau. Henrik added two assists. Bryan Smolinski scored his first goal as a Canuck. Lukas Krajicek played his best game in recent memory. And of course, Jeff Cowan - yes that waiver wire pickup Jeff Cowan - chipped in with two goals. He now has five goals, a fight and a bra thrown at him in three games (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun).
In the rest of the world, lightning never strikes twice. In Vancouver, it never strikes once, except when it hits five times in three games for Jeff Cowan.Jeff, I take back everything I said when the 'Nucks first plucked you from the waiver wire.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, who entered the National Hockey League in 1992, remained 0-for-ever in Vancouver as the Canucks got a pair of goals from their grinder-turned-sniper Tuesday and beat the 2004 Stanley Cup champions 5-1.
As the saying goes, the Canucks left it all on the ice. And after Cowan's second goal capped a rollicking third period, so did one female fan. At least we assume it was a she who tossed a bra on to the ice, creating a standoff between Canuck defenceman Willie Mitchell, who speared the unmentionable with his stick, and referee Dave Jackson, who was hesitant to transfer it to the penalty box.
Three games ago, Cowan may as well have been John Doe. Now, he's Tom Jones.
More from the Mainstream
- More postgame thoughts from the Vancouver press. - Ben Kuzma (Vancouver Province), Grant Kerr (Globe and Mail)
- Now from the Tampa Bay side. - Damian Cristodero (St. Petersburg Times), Erik Erlendson (Tampa Tribune)
- Heading towards the playoffs, the 'Nucks are clicking on all cylinders. - Ed Willes (Vancouver Province)
- It's been well-documented. Louie is glad to be heading to the playoffs. - Erik Erlendson (Tampa Tribune)
- Some roster notes on Rory, Kes and Dany. - Elliott Pap (Vancouver Sun)
About the game around the blogosphere
- The Yankee Canuck is the latest to praise Jeff Cowan.
- Ditto Jes Golbez.
- Waiting For Stanley is all for more bra-throwing on the ice.
- Isabella from stick in rink was at the game and gives her minute-by-minute account.
- Canucks Fangirl and The Chief Canuck also throw in their two cents.
My 3 Stars of the Game
- Daniel Sedin (VAN): Scored his 30th goal of the season.
- Jeff Cowan (VAN): Two more goals and a long standing ovation from the crowd.
- Kevin Bieksa (VAN): Led all Canucks in ice-time and scored the game-winning goal.
Official Statistics
Next Game
Away from the Vancouver rain and on to Phoenix on Thursday night.
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Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Tampa+Bay+Lightning
Labels: Cowan, game recap, Lightning, Luongo, Sedin
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Game Day: Lightning at Canucks
That the Tampa Bay Lightning were happy to see Roberto Luongo traded out of the Southeast Division is an understatement (Damien Cristodero, St. Petersburg Times).
The Canucks understand how explosive the Lightning offense is, which is in the top-10 in the league (3.04 goals/game). Their powerplay is also in the league's top-10, which, before it hadn't scored in the last three games, had scored 15 PPG in 13 games; it is converting on 19.2% of its opportunities this season. Having Vinnie Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Brad Richards will do that to your team (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun, Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province).
More from today's mainstream:
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Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Tampa+Bay+Lightning
Lightning center Brad Richards on Monday said with a smile and a chuckle that last summer's trade that sent Luongo to the Canucks was "a good thing."Let's keep it that way, eh?
And defenseman Dan Boyle said he was sure if a poll of Tampa Bay players was taken, "99 percent" would say Luongo stole more games against them than any other goalie.
Said Richards: "He gave us fits."
The Canucks understand how explosive the Lightning offense is, which is in the top-10 in the league (3.04 goals/game). Their powerplay is also in the league's top-10, which, before it hadn't scored in the last three games, had scored 15 PPG in 13 games; it is converting on 19.2% of its opportunities this season. Having Vinnie Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Brad Richards will do that to your team (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun, Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province).
Eight years into his career, the former No. 1 overall pick has become one of the league's brightest stars. He and linemate Martin St. Louis, the scoring champ and Hart Trophy winner in 2003-04, are tearing it up.Of course, now would be a good time for the Canucks' penalty-killing unit to get back on track (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province).
Lecavalier has 42 goals and 88 points. The pint-sized St. Louis 39 goals and 89 points. Only some teenage kid named Crosby has out-pointed these Lightning bolts.
No one expected the Vancouver Canucks' penalty kill to continue blistering along at a 95-per-cent rate, but some cracks have begun to show.
Most alarming, coach Alain Vigneault said, is the eight chances given up against Minnesota on Sunday, although the Wild scored just once on four power plays.
"We haven't given eight chances to the other team on their power play very often this year," Vigneault said after the Canucks practised Monday morning. "They picked us apart.
"It's something we're going to look at a little bit closer."
More from today's mainstream:
- Luongo ain't tired, but Vigneault plans to give Sabourin a start this week anyway (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun).
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Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Tampa+Bay+Lightning
Labels: game day preview, Lecavalier, Lightning, St. Louis
